- By Bornika Das
- Fri, 21 Mar 2025 10:11 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Korean Makeup Guide For Beginners: Love the flawless makeup look of Jennie Kim from your favourite Korean girl group BLACKPINK? Don’t worry as you can achieve her effortless look with simple basic steps in Korean makeup. Korean makeup has set a benchmark in the beauty world by becoming extremely popular within a short span of time. K-Beauty makeup highlights fresh, natural beauty with glowing skin and soft, youthful looks. Focussing on a minimal, simple yet effortless look, K-Beauty has become a trend on recent times among makeup enthusiasts. With the use of light, sheer textures and soft pastel colours, Korean makeup enhances the natural facial features. The makeup lends more of a no-makeup look and does not encourage the use of harsh chemicals or additives. If you’re a beginner and you love K-Beauty makeup looks you can achieve it by following simple steps.
History Of Korean Makeup
K-Beauty makeup has a long and rich history dating back to the Three Kingdoms of Korea and flourished during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. During that time, women used natural ingredients like jujube fruits and red beans to enhance their beauty. They also had a practice of using rice powder on their faces to make them look whiter. Over the years, Korean beauty has evolved and become more sophisticated. Women now use various makeup products like BB Korean cosmetics, CC Korean cosmetics, and contouring powders to achieve a beautiful complexion. Here’s the beginner’s guide that will take you through the basics of Korean makeup to achieve a flawless look.
Basics Of Korean Makeup
Skincare
Korean makeup focuses on good skincare. Having healthy skin allows the makeup to look better. Many people follow the initial steps of Korean skincare such as cleansing, toning, and moisturising before applying makeup. Hydrated skin helps makeup to stay smooth and natural.
Skin Foundation
While Western makeup often focuses on heavy coverage, Korean makeup prefers a dewy and fresh look. You can use lightweight BB cream or cushion foundation instead of heavy foundation. This helps the skin achieve a dewy, natural and glowing look. For more coverage, use a concealer only on dark spots or blemishes. You can also apply a little bit of powder on oily areas to keep the fresh look intact.
Eyebrows
Koreans love keeping their eyebrows straight and natural-looking. You can use a light brown or grey eyebrow pencil for a soft, glam effect. Fill the gaps lightly and follow the natural shape of your eyebrows. Do not make the brows too dark or too thick.
Eyes
Korean eye makeup is simple yet pretty. It appreciates the use of neutral eyeshadow shades like soft brown, peach, or pink. You can also use light shimmer on the eyelids for a fresh look. Apply a thin line of eyeliner close to the lashes for a natural effect. Curl your lashes and apply mascara instead of heavy false lashes.
Basic Steps To Follow For Korean Makeup (Image Credits: Canva)
Aegyo-Sal
Aegyo-Sal are small, natural eye bags under the eyes. These help make the eyes look youthful and bright. For this effect, use light eyeshadow or highlighter under the eyes. Then add a small amount of light brown shadow below it to create a soft shadow effect.
Blush
Korean makeup prefers the use of natural pink or peach blush. Apply it lightly on the apples of your cheeks for a youthful and fresh look. Korean makeup does not use strong contouring.
Lips
Gradient lips are one of the most popular Korean makeup trends. Gradient lips help create a soft and cute look. For this look, apply concealer or foundation on the lips to reduce natural colour. Use a lip tint at the centre of your lip and blend it with your fingers. Add a lip gloss over it for a fresh, juicy effect.